# strike

> English word · Verb · IPA /stɹaɪk/ · frequency rank #2,234

## Definitions
1. To delete or cross out; to scratch or eliminate.
2. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
3. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
4. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
5. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
6. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
7. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
8. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
9. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
10. To have a sharp or sudden physical effect, as of a blow.
11. To thrust in; to cause to enter or penetrate.
12. To infest the flesh of a living vertebrate.
13. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
14. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
15. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
16. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
17. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
18. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
19. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
20. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
21. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
22. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
23. To have a sharp or severe effect on a more abstract level.
24. To touch; to act by appulse.
25. To hook (a fish) by a quick turn of the wrist.
26. To take down, especially in the following contexts.
27. To take down, especially in the following contexts.
28. To take down, especially in the following contexts.
29. To take down, especially in the following contexts.
30. To take down, especially in the following contexts.
31. To take down, especially in the following contexts.
32. To set off on a walk or trip.
33. To pass with a quick or strong effect; to dart; to penetrate.
34. To break forth; to commence suddenly; with into.
35. To become attached to something; said of the spat of oysters.
36. To make and ratify; to reach; to find.
37. To discover a source of something, often a buried raw material such as ore (especially gold) or crude oil.
38. To level (a measure of grain, salt, etc.) with a straight instrument, scraping off what is above the level of the top.
39. To cut off (a mortar joint, etc.) even with the face of the wall, or inward at a slight angle.
40. To hit upon, or light upon, suddenly.
41. To lade thickened sugar cane juice from a teache into a cooler.
42. To stroke or pass lightly; to wave.
43. To advance; to cause to go forward; used only in the past participle.
44. To balance (a ledger or account).
45. To become saturated with salt.
46. To run, or fade in colour.
47. To do menial work for an officer.

## Etymology
From Middle English stryken, from Old English strīcan, from Proto-West Germanic *strīkan, from Proto-Germanic *strīkaną, from Proto-Indo-European *streyg- (“to stroke, rub, press”).
Cognate with Dutch strijken, German streichen, Danish stryge, Icelandic strýkja, strýkva.

## Easily confused with
- **strip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-strip)
- **string** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-string)
- **stroke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-stroke)
- **strips** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-strips)
- **strive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-strive)
- **stripe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-stripe)
- **strode** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-strode)
- **strobe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-strobe)
- **strove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-strove)
- **strikes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-strikes)
- **striker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-striker)
- **stripes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-stripes)
- **strokes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-strokes)
- **striped** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-striped)
- **Stryker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/strike-vs-stryker)
- **stake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stake-vs-strike)
- **spike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spike-vs-strike)
- **stoke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stoke-vs-strike)
- **serie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/serie-vs-strike)
- **stipe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/stipe-vs-strike)

## Common misspellings (9)
`srtike`, `sstrike`, `stirke`, `striek`, `strikke`, `strkie`, `strrike`, `sttrike`, `tsrike`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/strike